Leg iron



w. BEZONA 2,724,256

LEG IRON Nov. 22, 1955 Filed June 11 195] I I l n I l Wayne B02000INVENTOR.

United States Patent LEG IRON Wayne Bezona, Spokane, Wash.

Application June 11, 1951, Serial No. 231,000 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-16Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a leg iron witha hinge joint to be positioned adjacent the knee joint of the wearer topermit bending of the knee when necessary to sit in close quarters.

Another object of the invention lies in the provisionof a releasablecollar on the leg iron, adapted to secure the hinge joint with thesections in axial alignment.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a leg iron with an upperleg receiving ring, and a lower foot receiving stirrup and which haschained thereto a leg shackle or cuff for locking the device on aprisoners leg.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a leg ironwhich may be worn with comfort, as long as one does not attempt to bendthe knee as when attempting to run or fight.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a leg ironwhich is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to apply and remove.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts,

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved leg iron showing it appliedto the leg of a person,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, and,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hinge joint releasedand broken.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have provided upper andlower. sections 4 and 5, respectively, which are pivotally securedtogether at 6. The upper section 4 has secured on the inner side faceand at its upper end, a horizontally disposed leg encircling band 7which is formed from flat bar stock and is partially shaped to conformto the vertical contour of the leg with the front and side of the bandopposed to the section 4 disposed at an angle. giving the band anoutwardly flared upper edge 8 on said front and side. The band is formedwith a vertically disposed rear portion 9 for positioning at the back onthe wearers leg.

If a prisoner attempts to run while wearing the. leg iron, the naturaltendency to bend the leg when the foot contacts the ground, will causethe rear portion 9 to press on the tendons at the back of the legcausing great discomfort, but as long as one walks at a normal pace,keeping the leg stiff, there is no discomfort.

The leg iron is of such length as to position the leg encircling band 7substantially midway the distance between the knee joint and the hipjoint of an average size adult, and actual tests have proven that thedevice will then be usable on the legs of persons ranging in size 2 i tfrom that of an average 15 year old to an adult much over six feet tall.This provides a great latitude of use of the device and does not requirevertical adjustment to make it practical. t

The lower section 5 is shaped with an inward are 10 commencingsubstantially midway its length and then downwardly, the are slowlyreverses, 11, and terminates in a substantially vertical portion 12commencing adjacent the ankle bone of a person wearing the device;

Welded on the inner side at its lower end, section 5 has afoot rest orplate 13, disposed in a horizontal plane, and which whenviewed in planappears to be shaped to conform to that of an insole for a shoe. Theforward portion 14 of the plate 13 terminates'just short of the balljoint B of the great toe and this causes the arch of the foot to bestiff and further hinders use of the foot when attempting to run.

Opposed to the section 5 plate 13 is provided with an outwardly bowedand upwardly extending bar 15 which terminates upwardly at a pointapproximately 3 inches above the inner ankle bone. An eye 16 is securedto the outer side face of bar 5 adjacent its upper end, and a shortlength of chain 17 secures a shackle 18 of the type having the usualpivotal jaw 19 and of the type being provided with a lock and key toreleasably securethe jaw about a leg and the lower section 5, as shownin Figures 1 and 2. The pivotal joint 6 is positioned adjacent the kneejoint of the wearer, and the lower section 5 is provided with an upperportion 5' having an end face 20 formed at a downward incline from frontto back. The lower end of section 4 is formed with an angled end face 21adapted to conform to face 20 when the two sections are positioned inaxial alignment.

Ears 22 are welded at each side of upper section 4 and extend downwardlybeyond the angled. end face 21 in straddling relation to the end portionof section 5. A pivot pin 23 passes through ears 22 adjacent the endsthereof and through section 5 below the end portion 5' and which ispositioned between the two cars 22 to hingedly connect the two sections.

The cooperating angled faces 20 and 21 prevent the lower section frompivoting forwardly but permit its rearward movement. To lock the joint6, I provide a substantially square collar 24 adapted to slip downwardlyover the upper ends of cars 22 when the two sections are in axialalignment, and with the collar movable downwardly in restrictingcovering relation to the end portion 5. One spaced car 22 is providedwith a socket 25, and

collar 24 has a set bolt 26 threaded through one wall thereof andpositioned to seat in said socket 25 when the collar is in its loweredlocking position.

My improved leg iron is applied to the leg of a prisoner by passing theleg through band 7 and placing the foot on the stirrup defined by theelements 12, 13, 14 and 15. Shackle 18 is then looked with its jaw. 19encircling the prisoners leg and the section 5. The joint 6 may be leftflexible and the prisoner then may put his shoe on covering the saddleand his foot. The joint may then be locked stiff by means of collar 24and then pants may be donned covering the device.

A special type wrench receiving socket 27 may be supplied in set bolt 26which will preclude: its removal by a prisoner having no tools.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A leg iron comprising upper and lower sections, a leg receiving bandsecured to the inner side face of said upper section, said band havingfront and side portions angled downwardly to conform to the verticalcontour of a persons leg, a vertically positioned rear portion on saidband, spaced ears secured to said upper section at its lower end, asocket in one of said! ears, said upper 'ifi cfipil having anang-ledlower end face, said lower sectio' having an angled upper end faceconforming to said 'l owe'r end face when the 'sections are in axialalignment,

said lower section being hingedly secured between said ears adjacent itsupper end, an upper end portion on the lower sect-ion. above the pointof hinging, a vertically shiftablecollar for; locking said sections inaxially aligned relation by encircling said ears and upper end portionin restricting covering relation, a set bolt threaded through one wallof saidcollar and adapted to seat in said socket to lock the collaragainst vertical movement, said lower section having an inwardly curvedarcuate portion and a 'slo'w re'verse curve terminating in a verticalportion, said angled downwardly to conform to the vertical contour of apersons leg, a vertically positioned rear portion on said band, hingemeans uniting said upper and lower sections and being adapted forselective locking in axial alignment, said lower section having aninwardly curved a'i'cuat'epportion and a slow reverse curve terminatingin ajvertical portion, said inwardly curved portion cominencingdownwardly midway the length of said lower section, a horizontal footplate secured at the lower end 4 of "said lower section, an outwardlycurved upstanding bar secured to said foot plate, an eye on said bar, achain secured in said eye, and a leg shackle secured to said chain andadapted to lock while encircling a leg and said lower section.

3. A leg iron comprising an elongated rigid bar, a leg receiving bandsecured to the inner side face of said bar at its upper end, said bandhaving front and side portions angled downwardly to conform to thevertical contour of a persons leg, a vertically positioned rear portionon said band, said bar having an inwardly curved arcuate portion and aslow reverse curve terminating in a vertical portion at its lower end, ahorizontal foot plate secured at the lower end of said bar, an outwardlycurved upstanding bar secured to said foot plate opposed to said firstnamed bar, an eye on said second named bar, a chain secured in said eye,and a leg shackle secured to said chain and adapted to lock whileencircling a leg and said first named bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

